Learning Conditions and Student Orientations 1984/85

Learning conditions and student orientation.

Topics: 1. Subject of studies and university admission: first course
of studies or second course of studies; subject combination;
application via ZVS; degree sought; type of high school graduation or
entitlement to university admission; type of high school.

2. Experiences and main focus areas in the upper level: attendance at
the reformed upper level; high school graduation subjects; average
grade in final report; education before and activity after high school
graduation; content connection between education or employment and
major subject; reasons for taking up studies after education;
characterization of the situation before start of course of studies;
consideration of alternatives to studies.

3. Education choice and expectations of studies: motives for choice of
studies; extent to which informed about selected questions of college
studies; assessment of the usefulness of change of university, research
practical training, studies abroad, specializing, studies beyond major
subject, practical work experience outside of university, occupational
training, university policy involvement, rapid conclusion of course of
studies, supplemental qualification through second course of studies as
well as doctorate for personal development and to improve employment
prospects; benefit of college studies; preference for studies oriented
on inclination or later occupational chances; characterization of
personal major subject and the demands placed.

4. Study and work habits: skills mastered and work techniques
regarding optimal learning and studying; self-assessment of
concentration ability, one´s own initiative, ability to grasp new
ideas, pleasure at discovering, critical faculty, care and accuracy at
work; evaluation of knowledge provided in school; participation in
preparatory or bridge courses; number of hours each week for selected
study activities; attending courses beyond major subject; study and
achievement orientation; self-evaluation of study achievements;
satisfaction with study achievements; study habits; fear of
examinations and time burden from studies; regulating studies; studies
course and studies planning; loss of semesters due to organizational
regulations such as insufficient courses available or examinations not
passed.

5. Studies path and studies course: intermediate examination passed
and average grade; self-evaluation of one´s own study achievements;
determinants of studies result up to now; employment as student
assistant or tutor.

6. Questions on student situation in life: manner of financing
studies; adequate financial means and available money each month;
number of hours of employment each week besides studies; relevance of
this employment to studies; employment in the last two semesters;
actual and preferred housing situation; judgement on current housing
situation; admission via the ZVS; reasons for the choice of university;
studies abroad; interruption of studies and change of univeristy;
language course and practical training abroad; participation in
research projects; planned studies course and contemplated change of
subject or termination of studies; number of semesters.

7. Contact and communication: description of the frequency of contact
with friends outside of the university, family members, students of
one´s major subject or other subjects, assistents, professors and
persons in the future occupation field as well as desire for increased
contacts with these groups; satisfaction with contacts with fellow
students and instructors; advice and coaching through instructors;
frequency of coaching and counseling used; importance of coaching and
advice in selected areas of studies; perceived isolation and anonymity
at the university (scale); participation in activities of selected
university groups and university activities; preferred tasks for the
student representation; representation of personal university policy
views by the current ASTA; perceived differences in the university
situation of men and women; demand for improving the situation of women
at the university.

8. Study problems: extent of personal difficulties and burdens in
studies; judgement on the structure, quality and organization of
personal course of studies; most important change to improve personal
learning conditions; perceived social, technical as well as
intellectual support in studies; judgement on the new student aid
ruling; successful completion of selected courses; satisfaction with
decision for selected major subject or interest in other education.

9. Role as student: advantageous aspects of student life; judgement on
the standing of students in society; satisfaction with life as a
student.

10. Ideas about university and science: currently determined tasks of
the university as well as desired most important tasks; preferred goals
of university reform; attitude to selected forms of university policy
protest or criticism; attitude to technical progress.

11. Role and chances of graduates: greater responsibility of graduates
regarding society; specifying particular characteristics and abilities
of graduates in comparison to non-academics; attitude to increased
income and social status of graduates; perceived changes of the chances
of the upward social mobility; judgement on the prospect of
advancement.

12. Choice of occupation and occupation concepts: occupational moral
concepts and areas of activity sought; occupation prospects; efforts
for a job; perceived alternatives with job market difficulties.

13. Attitude to various areas of life: importance of areas of life;
attitude to employment of women and preference for family or
occupation; characterization of one´s own personality.

14. Political interest and position: interest in politics in the area
of general politics as well as also university policy interests;
attitude to democracy and the political system in the Federal Republic
(scale); democratic conviction; judgement on political conditions;
self-classification on a left-right continuum in comparison to various
groups; attitude to selected political goals; alternative orientations
and activities (participation in groups sharing a residence, citizen
initiatives, peace movement, autonomous work collectives and women´s
groups); extent of realization of general social and democratic goals
in the Federal Republic; assessment of social differences in the
country; legitimizing social inequality; attitude to achievement
orientation and the competition principle; self-classification on a
top-bottom scale; social origins; expected development of one´s own
social position in the next ten years.